Euro HD-DVD price cut iffy

By Robert Purchese Published 26 July, 2007

US gets new deal.

Microsoft has remained traditionally tight-lipped about the possibility of a European Xbox 360 HD-DVD player price cut.

It follows earlier news that the platform holder had used some small business scissors to snip 20 bucks off the asking price in the US, taking it to USD 179.

"We currently have no announcements to make at this stage regarding a price cut of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Drive for the UK," a spokesperson for Microsoft told Eurogamer.

Those of you taking advantage of the new deal in America will also be treated to five free HD-DVDs picked from a selection of 15. The price-cut starts on 1st August and runs indefinitely, but the HD-DVD offer runs out at the end of September.

Microsoft was also rather pleased with its format for securing the HD-DVD versions of action film 300 and popular telly series Heroes.

"With the price reduction to USD 179, the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player continues to be the most affordable way to enjoy high definition," said Jeff Bell, holder of the longest job title at Microsoft.

The other way is Blu-ray, of course - that secret feature inherent to every PlayStation 3 made.

The HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 will cost you about GBP 110-130 in the UK.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (41) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Scrumhalf #1 5 years ago

    Does anyone know if the US HD-DVD Drive works with a UK XBox 360 and are all HD-DVD discs region free?

    I am off to the states on business in the middle of August and this looks like a good deal :)

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    I'd be surprised, I thought Hollywood was apprehensive with region free movies.

    "With the price reduction to USD 179, the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player continues to be the most affordable way to enjoy high definition," said Jeff Bell, holder of the longest job title at Microsoft.

    ... I wonder if that statement includes the cost of a Xbox 360.

  • thebuzzard #3 5 years ago

    No, HD-DVD isnt region free.

  • RexRunti #4 5 years ago

    All HD-DVD discs are region free. There may be some power issues with as US hd-dvd player though.

  • paulsaz #5 5 years ago

    the hd-dvd drive will assume the region of the xbox it's attached to. HD-DVD's are all region free, you'll be stuck with r2 dvd's if you connect it to a uk xbox.

    there is no way of getting hd audio out of the 360 add on which may or may not be an issue to you.

  • KillahSouljah #6 5 years ago

    £130 for an add-on HD-DVD player? fuck that.

    PLAYSTATION 3 costs less when compare it to the XBOX 360 Elite and all its add-ons.

    XBOX 360 Elite
    +
    HD-DVD player add-on
    +
    Wireless Network adaptor add-on
    =


    PLAYSTATION 3
    - Blu-ray player built-in
    - Wi-Fi connectivity built-in
    - USB connector x4
    - HDD in every SKU
    = £425
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/07 @ 12:56

  • useyourloaf #7 5 years ago

    Only a good deal if you don't like films from Sony, Fox, Disney/Buena Vista, MGM, ...

  • RexRunti #8 5 years ago

    http://www.movietyme.com is well geared up to sending to the UK as well.

  • EmiliasHorse #9 5 years ago

    Gamestation sell the HD drive for £99 which is nice.

  • RexRunti #10 5 years ago

    @paulsaz

    Actually you get surround sound via optical there is a port on the official component and vga leads.

  • paulsaz #11 5 years ago

    I know you can get standard surround, but there is no way of getting the new True HD, DTS-Master Audio or an uncompressed multichannel pcm sountrack. Only an issue to those with full home cinema setups and amps that can handle multichannel pcm.

  • mattigan #12 5 years ago

    Thanks KillahSouljah for pointing this out, as I (not having looked at the internet for 2 years) wasn't aware of the differences between the 360 and PS3.....



    Cock.

  • Gastrian #13 5 years ago

    "... I wonder if that statement includes the cost of a Xbox 360."

    Doesn't need to as you can just plug it into the PC you are typing from.

  • KD #14 5 years ago

    £89 i had my hd dvd player from gamestation, was £99 but they had to open the box for some reason so i had it in 2nd hand price

  • Darren #15 5 years ago

    HD-DVD... what's that? /wink

    Seriously though, had the Xbox 360 included a HD-DVD drive from the off along with HDMI, instead of as a clunky add-on that requires its own PSU, I'm quite sure I'd have been buying lots of HD-DVD movies instead of BD ones and that BD wouldn't account for 70% of hi-def movies sales right now.

    With rumours suggesting the format wars could be over as soon as this Christmas once Universal starts supporting BD, I'm kind of glad that I didn't go for HD-DVD in the first place. Of course, it could all change and I might end up eating my words but it seems unlikely.

  • RexRunti #16 5 years ago

    I'm actually hoping HD-DVD loses the war then I can buy a Blu-Ray add on for my 360 and really don't have to worry about getting a cheap blu-ray player (aka PS3).

  • neilqpr #17 5 years ago

    I bought the HD DVD player in Japan a few months ago and it works fine. I'm buying HD DVD's from the states so the HD DVD part isn't locked. Though I'm guessing a patch in the future will put an end to that.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/07 @ 13:18

  • moggsy #18 5 years ago

    Seriously though, had the Xbox 360 included a HD-DVD drive from the off along with HDMI, instead of as a clunky add-on that requires its own PSU, I'm quite sure I'd have been buying lots of HD-DVD movies instead of BD ones and that BD wouldn't account for 70% of hi-def movies sales right now.

    and you'd have waited at least a year longer for the 360 and it would cost more - like the PS3.

  • Darren #19 5 years ago

    Well the price of the PS3 was not an issue for me, I think it's terrific value as it comes with a larger hard drive, HDMI, built-in Wi-Fi and a BD player (plus reliability!) all for an extra £145. Sure not everyone wants those features but I did so I can't complain! LOL

    Someone in the CVG forum posted a link to a story on Tech.co.uk about thieves that broke into a Silver Platters store and stole $5,000 worth of BD discs whilst leaving the HD-DVD racks untouched! They might have been PS3 owners for all we know but even so it doesn't exactly paint HD-DVD as a very popular format if thieves won't even steal them!!! LOL

  • davisorle #20 5 years ago

    @KillahSouljah

    Dude.. Get the fucking fatcs straight here... £425 For a PS3? well FUCK THAT better.

  • moggsy #21 5 years ago

    Well the price of the PS3 was not an issue for me, I think it's terrific value as it comes with a larger hard drive, HDMI, built-in Wi-Fi and a BD player (plus reliability!) all for an extra £145. Sure not everyone wants those features but I did so I can't complain! LOL

    Yep but you would still have had to wait an extra year. I personally would prefer to play HD games a year earlier than have to wait in order to be able to also watch HD movies. It's a games machine y'know...

  • IAmBatman #22 5 years ago

    > add-on that requires its own PSU

    Is that true? I always assumed it would take power through the USB cable. Huh. That's a bit shit then.

  • Darren #23 5 years ago

    Moggsy - "Yep but you would still have had to wait an extra year."

    On reflection, I think I would have rather waited an extra year for a machine that was better tested and better designed somehow regardless of whether it included an HD-DVD drive or not.

    I think the Xbox easily had another year's life in it but Microsoft quickly dropped it as soon as the 360 was released. Just look at how popular the PS3 still is? Some of the best games I've played this year haven't been Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii ones, they've been old PS2 games that I missed out on but could finally play once I bought my PS3, e.g. Okami, Canis Canem Edit and Shadow of the Colossus. ;)

  • Darren #24 5 years ago

    @IAmBatman - The 360's HD-DVD add-on comes with its own power "brick" alas, the 'perfect' companion to the one you didn't want with your Xbox 360! LOL

    Incidentally, with the PS3 being only slightly larger than the Xbox 360 and apparently not prone to overheating like the 360, isn't anyone else impressed that Sony managed to fit the PSU internally? I'm amazed at that myself.

  • Pac #25 5 years ago

    The only thing that's gonna sell a PS3 to me at the moment is Heavenly Sword. And it better be good after all this hype. Isn't the demo due out today (perhaps it's US time)?

    Hi-def can movies are a luxury I can wait a while for. At least until they release the hi-def 25th anniversary edition of Blade Runner that is.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/07 @ 14:40

  • paulsaz #26 5 years ago

    not long to wait then pac, it's out in december on dvd, hd-dvd and bluray.

    http://ww w.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?co...

  • peasoup #27 5 years ago

    if they manage to get these down to 80 i think i would consider it. I have a 360, so the tired ps3 is cheaper that 360 plus hd dvd is a mute point. If you shop around the web HD DVDs cost about the same as DVD's i know the xbox doesnt support the new sound formats (and never will) but if its cheap enough could be worth a go.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/07 @ 15:11

  • Pac #28 5 years ago

    @paulsaz

    Thanks for that, I had heard it was coming out this year (fairly obvious I suppose as Blade Runner was released in 1982 and it's the 25th Anniversary) but I've not seen a release date yet.

    Here's hoping Heavenly Sword is up to scratch so I can play it on the PS3 without having to buy the clunky HD-DVD add-on for the 360.

  • Calgon #29 5 years ago

    Said it before but the Hi-Def movie market wont ever be big enough in this generation of consoles to sway the Console market... people are expecting it to be a simple switch from DVD(never going to be a big as that) its going take longer, remain smaller and no matter which format wins they will eventually have to compete with Digital Distribution anyway. MS were wise not to get too involved in this format war, they would have been stuck with an unecessarly expensive format and for games its not really as big a deal as Sony make out... very few games "have" to be on one disk... 2 or more disks isnt a problem(its nothing new, we've seen it many times before and it hasnt been a problem) with advanced compression you wont be changing disks often enough to complain - with a straight face/without being called a lazy ****. :)

    Will any studios really drop either? is there any need to? as long as they are selling enough surely they can make a killing on either at the prices they are charging(HD DVD is alread cheaper to publish on as it is). Even if HD DVD does "lose", 360 will probably get a Blu-Ray drive which wouldnt have been an option if theyd have waited to include it in both SKUs(which would first piss off people who just wanted a console and then piss off people who did want a HD movie format).
    Edited by 2 at 26/07/07 @ 15:38

  • skillian #30 5 years ago

    The other way is Blu-ray, of course - that secret feature inherent to every PlayStation 3 made.

    The best way (until a format is finally chosen) is x264 and a PC ;)

    Doesn't matter whether they were originally HD-DVD or Blu-Ray - they'll work on your PC regardless, and you won't need a drive for either format.

    Piracy ftw.

  • rhinoxious #31 5 years ago

    Gastrian "Doesn't need to as you can just plug it into the PC you are typing from"

    That's only true if your PC has a dual core processor, or a VERY fast single core, plus a recent graphics card (nvidia 7600/8600 or better preferably). Then you'll need the full platinum version of PowerDVD, and a bit of tinkering to get it all running without a hiccup.

  • Darren #32 5 years ago

    @Calgon (isn't that the name of a dishwasher powder?) - What you say is true but ultimately the fate of the formats is down to which one consumers buy and at the moment that is BD which has the support of all the major movie studios bar one, Universal. Once they switch to supporting BD then I reckon it's only a matter of time before HD-DVD goes the way of Betamax. If you want to watch Spider-Man 3 in hi-def then you'll have to buy a BD player because that is unlikely to ever see a release on HD-DVD as it's a Sony movie. If there are more movies on BD than HD-DVD and they sell for the same price, why would anyone bother with HD-DVD?

  • lennon #33 5 years ago

    @Darren - where do you buy your BD films from? Last time I looked they were no where near the same price. I could have picked up World Trade centre for £11 on HD-DVD as opposed to £30 on Blu-Ray.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/07 @ 17:18

  • sanctusmortis #34 5 years ago

    If every studio, as technically they already do, supports digital download though, BOTH formats are dad in the water. Who supports IPTV and digital download? Oh yes- MS. Sony have a history of being slow on the uptake- see their blinkered ATRAC creation going up against MP3, slow adoption of new HD codec- and you see the HD was isn't even started yet.

    I'll hold out on getting involved until we have a winner. It's a lot of money to risk right now, better put into games.

  • afghan_jones #35 5 years ago

    "BOTH formats are dad in the water"

    Quick, call baywatch! my dad cant swim!
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/07 @ 17:55

  • Scump #36 5 years ago

    Trying not to be a Sony hater, but the issue of blu-ray holding back the ps3 by almost a year, 8 months for sure is the biggest reason the 360 appears to be out much earlier. We know this with the late european release, so to say that sony had spent an extra year on hardware dev is wrong, sure maybe a bit more time but I doubt somehow it was an entire year. The 360 and its add-ons are a mangled mess...i know this because I have them. I mean everything has a power brick, the steering wheel has one and on the side of it there is a massive plastic cover, that covers a gap big enough to tuck in a power supply.

    Then look at games, designers had an extra year for the ps3 and still there are no games. Compare both machines right now. Microsoft have spent more time on dev kits, and the basic software than the machine itself. They at the moment suceed with a larger selection of games but reliability and overall power lag (depending how you look at it, processing or memory).

    Sony I think constructed a great machine and spent time on it. Everything works and works well. But I think they clearly have not supported as many dev teams as they could, the kit is awful and I honestly think with the ever increasing development costs that a good kit will help win game designers over- therefore customers.

    Sorry this is off topic but wank boys have returned to start the row...and Im clearly convinced I can settle this. Aw.

    Edit- Spelling and what have ye
    Edited by 2 at 26/07/07 @ 18:24

  • TRUTH #37 5 years ago

    Blu-ray won't take off. Has failed in Japan and Europe, then there's Super Hi-Def on PC's and with Hi-Def downloads becoming the norm quickly and cheaply. Bluray will end up like: Betamax, Artec, Minidisc, Super Cd, Video Cd...All developed by Sony!

  • clockworkzombie #38 5 years ago

    I have the HD-DVD player and I am very happy with it. I have purchased many discs from Amazon and my local vendors. Currently the discs are region free although the spec for HD-DVD can include region coding none of the ones I have to date do so.

    I can play region 4 and 1 discs without problems. The recent dvd player and display updates have certainly made a difference.


  • spookyzombie #39 5 years ago

    I'm not really in a position to buy expensive movies, so my way of watching them is via rental. Blockbuster (my largest local store) have sided with Blue Ray, so it looks like there's (unfortunately) no point in me buying the 360 player.

  • Dan_LXIX #40 5 years ago

    I'm not interested in any disc players, regardless of format. I discovered the joys of streaming video, both SD and HD, to my 360 from my PC over 12 months ago. My DVD collection is rapidly getting ripped to my PC, and my Napster subscription has replaced my CD collection on my hard drive as well. I cherry pick which films end up HD, because most aren't worth it, but I have no worries about formats at all.

    Digital downloads is the format war winner, and it's not even fighting :D

  • corzair #41 5 years ago

    @ Dan_LXIX

    I think you nailed the point pretty well

    people moan about the xbox360's hdd but I too stream to my xbox360
    and its said marketplace is here soon so I'm happy with what MS did with
    just having a dvd drive (with excellent upscaling too!)..